Need advice - program changes at son's preschool

[Guest guest]

My son's preschool is undergoing some (unwelcome) changes in the fall. Namely,

the school is telling parents that they can no longer support having an

integrated classroom. At the present moment, there are about 6 kids with IEPs

and 6 typically developing children (kids who qualify for Head Start) in the

classroom. This is a level 3 classroom, kids are verbal, most high-functioning.

The school is saying they won't be in " compliance " if they continue this same

structure next year. The district is telling us they won't be compliant, but

won't really say what it is they aren't being compliant with, nor show us the

regulations they are basing these changes on.

All the research points to inclusion and indicates that children on the spectrum

need to learn from typically developing peers. Despite all of our pleas to not

make these changes, appearances at board meetings, etc. the school insists they

can not or will not allow the integrated classroom in the fall. In addition,

they are not allowing one of our teachers to continue as she does not have

teacher certification, rather she is a licensed speech therapist. They are

removing based on not being in 'compliance.'

How are other Michigan districts handling children with similar needs? What can

we do to ensure our kids are getting the same amount of interaction with typical

kids as they do now? I think it may be time to hire a lawyer?

[Guest guest]

Wow, what a mess. Do you think a document request via the Freedom of Information

Act would get you anywhere? I would at least call an advocacy group to find out

what the next step would be.

>

> My son's preschool is undergoing some (unwelcome) changes in the fall.

Namely, the school is telling parents that they can no longer support having an

integrated classroom. At the present moment, there are about 6 kids with IEPs

and 6 typically developing children (kids who qualify for Head Start) in the

classroom. This is a level 3 classroom, kids are verbal, most high-functioning.

>

> The school is saying they won't be in " compliance " if they continue this same

structure next year. The district is telling us they won't be compliant, but

won't really say what it is they aren't being compliant with, nor show us the

regulations they are basing these changes on.

>

> All the research points to inclusion and indicates that children on the

spectrum need to learn from typically developing peers. Despite all of our

pleas to not make these changes, appearances at board meetings, etc. the school

insists they can not or will not allow the integrated classroom in the fall. In

addition, they are not allowing one of our teachers to continue as she does not

have teacher certification, rather she is a licensed speech therapist. They are

removing based on not being in 'compliance.'

>

> How are other Michigan districts handling children with similar needs? What

can we do to ensure our kids are getting the same amount of interaction with

typical kids as they do now? I think it may be time to hire a lawyer?

>

[Guest guest]

That's a tough one. In ca, public schools must hire credentialed teachers. Private schools can hire who ever they want. Doubt you can fight them getting rid of the classroom but a lawyer can help you get your child in either a private placement or mainstreamed public placement with a 1:1 aide. I would push for a private preschool that would accept your son and an aide. That's what we did in leu of a special day classroom.Sent from my iPad

Wow, what a mess. Do you think a document request via the Freedom of Information Act would get you anywhere? I would at least call an advocacy group to find out what the next step would be.

>

> My son's preschool is undergoing some (unwelcome) changes in the fall. Namely, the school is telling parents that they can no longer support having an integrated classroom. At the present moment, there are about 6 kids with IEPs and 6 typically developing children (kids who qualify for Head Start) in the classroom. This is a level 3 classroom, kids are verbal, most high-functioning.

>

> The school is saying they won't be in "compliance" if they continue this same structure next year. The district is telling us they won't be compliant, but won't really say what it is they aren't being compliant with, nor show us the regulations they are basing these changes on.

>

> All the research points to inclusion and indicates that children on the spectrum need to learn from typically developing peers. Despite all of our pleas to not make these changes, appearances at board meetings, etc. the school insists they can not or will not allow the integrated classroom in the fall. In addition, they are not allowing one of our teachers to continue as she does not have teacher certification, rather she is a licensed speech therapist. They are removing based on not being in 'compliance.'

>

> How are other Michigan districts handling children with similar needs? What can we do to ensure our kids are getting the same amount of interaction with typical kids as they do now? I think it may be time to hire a lawyer?

>

=

[Guest guest]

I know the mention of getting a lawyer has been on here before, but what if

someone just can't afford to hire a lawyer? What do they base the child's needs

on? Is it actually a law, federal or state, or is it a " right " in the school

system that is based on the child's needs and development? In a perfect world we

would all be able to hire lawyers to get what our children deserve, but

sometimes there's just not enough money left over to do that. I am not yet in

that position, but my husband is fighting me on which school to send my son to

while his teacher is telling me I can send him to the " other " school but to be

prepared to come to school every day to pick him up because socially he is not

ready to stay mainstreamed all day long.

I am sure many of us are passionate enough to be persuasive, but just don't have

that access to the laws that would win an arguement and ge us what our children

need.

> > >

> > > My son's preschool is undergoing some (unwelcome) changes in the fall.

Namely, the school is telling parents that they can no longer support having an

integrated classroom. At the present moment, there are about 6 kids with IEPs

and 6 typically developing children (kids who qualify for Head Start) in the

classroom. This is a level 3 classroom, kids are verbal, most high-functioning.

> > >

> > > The school is saying they won't be in " compliance " if they continue this

same structure next year. The district is telling us they won't be compliant,

but won't really say what it is they aren't being compliant with, nor show us

the regulations they are basing these changes on.

> > >

> > > All the research points to inclusion and indicates that children on the

spectrum need to learn from typically developing peers. Despite all of our pleas

to not make these changes, appearances at board meetings, etc. the school

insists they can not or will not allow the integrated classroom in the fall. In

addition, they are not allowing one of our teachers to continue as she does not

have teacher certification, rather she is a licensed speech therapist. They are

removing based on not being in 'compliance.'

> > >

> > > How are other Michigan districts handling children with similar needs?

What can we do to ensure our kids are getting the same amount of interaction

with typical kids as they do now? I think it may be time to hire a lawyer?

> > >

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> >

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[Guest guest]

Suppose to be based on laws but a child's need is very subjective. You can try an advocate. They are much less expensive and sometimes they work for free.LoriSent from my iPhone

I know the mention of getting a lawyer has been on here before, but what if someone just can't afford to hire a lawyer? What do they base the child's needs on? Is it actually a law, federal or state, or is it a "right" in the school system that is based on the child's needs and development? In a perfect world we would all be able to hire lawyers to get what our children deserve, but sometimes there's just not enough money left over to do that. I am not yet in that position, but my husband is fighting me on which school to send my son to while his teacher is telling me I can send him to the "other" school but to be prepared to come to school every day to pick him up because socially he is not ready to stay mainstreamed all day long.

I am sure many of us are passionate enough to be persuasive, but just don't have that access to the laws that would win an arguement and ge us what our children need.

> > >

> > > My son's preschool is undergoing some (unwelcome) changes in the fall. Namely, the school is telling parents that they can no longer support having an integrated classroom. At the present moment, there are about 6 kids with IEPs and 6 typically developing children (kids who qualify for Head Start) in the classroom. This is a level 3 classroom, kids are verbal, most high-functioning.

> > >

> > > The school is saying they won't be in "compliance" if they continue this same structure next year. The district is telling us they won't be compliant, but won't really say what it is they aren't being compliant with, nor show us the regulations they are basing these changes on.

> > >

> > > All the research points to inclusion and indicates that children on the spectrum need to learn from typically developing peers. Despite all of our pleas to not make these changes, appearances at board meetings, etc. the school insists they can not or will not allow the integrated classroom in the fall. In addition, they are not allowing one of our teachers to continue as she does not have teacher certification, rather she is a licensed speech therapist. They are removing based on not being in 'compliance.'

> > >

> > > How are other Michigan districts handling children with similar needs? What can we do to ensure our kids are getting the same amount of interaction with typical kids as they do now? I think it may be time to hire a lawyer?

> > >

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[Guest guest]

No longer being able to support usually means lack of funds. A speech teacher is not the same as a teacher with special ed. certification which is necessary for an integrated classroom. There is a limit to the number of children in an integrated classroom as well. (I'm not sure how this varies from state to state.) I believe a teaching aide who has been trained in special ed. also needs to be present in the room. It would be possible for the children in this class to be "integrated" into the mainstream classes at the school with "pull-outs" for PT, speech or whatever other special services they might need. To: autism-aspergers Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2012 10:00 AM Subject: Need advice - program changes at son's preschool

My son's preschool is undergoing some (unwelcome) changes in the fall. Namely, the school is telling parents that they can no longer support having an integrated classroom. At the present moment, there are about 6 kids with IEPs and 6 typically developing children (kids who qualify for Head Start) in the classroom. This is a level 3 classroom, kids are verbal, most high-functioning.

The school is saying they won't be in "compliance" if they continue this same structure next year. The district is telling us they won't be compliant, but won't really say what it is they aren't being compliant with, nor show us the regulations they are basing these changes on.

All the research points to inclusion and indicates that children on the spectrum need to learn from typically developing peers. Despite all of our pleas to not make these changes, appearances at board meetings, etc. the school insists they can not or will not allow the integrated classroom in the fall. In addition, they are not allowing one of our teachers to continue as she does not have teacher certification, rather she is a licensed speech therapist. They are removing based on not being in 'compliance.'

How are other Michigan districts handling children with similar needs? What can we do to ensure our kids are getting the same amount of interaction with typical kids as they do now? I think it may be time to hire a lawyer?